Self-cleaning float-valve.



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

ALBERT B. OROWDER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOBERNARD GRIESEDIECK, OF SAME PLACE.

SELF-c LEAN NG FLOAT-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 671,854, dated April 9,1901.

Application inta March 12, 1900. seria No. 8,328. (No modem To @ZZ whom,it may concern..-

Be it known that l, ALBERT B. CROWDER, of the city of St. Louis, Stateof Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSelf-Cleaning Float-Valves, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to `a self cleaning Heat-valve for steam heatingapparatus; and it consists of the novel construction, combination, andarrangement of parts hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved self-cleaning valveto be applied directly to each radiator in steam heating systems, whichwill return the water of condensation under a partial vacuum.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a section of my improved valve and aportion of a radiator. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the valve with the coverremoved. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the valve with the cover andfloat-valve removed. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the floatvalvedetached.

l indicates the casing, the upper end of which is provided with a cover2, threaded to the casing or otherwise removably connected thereto insuch manner as to form a tight joint therewith. Projecting laterallyfrom the casing is a hollow shank 3, which is provided withscrew-threads and adapted to be screwed directly into the waterdischarge opening of the radiator 4. Of course the shank may beconnected to the radiator in any other known manner. The interior of thecasing l is provided with a raised or elevated valve-seat 5, whichprojects a considerable distance above the bottom of the casing, so thatsediment or obstructions will lodge at the bottom of the casing and notinterfere with the seating of the valve. Alateral leakage channel ordepression 6 is formed in the top of the valve-seat, so that a definiteamount of leakage will at all times take place past the float-valve 7and its seat. Said floatlvalve 7 is of slightly smaller size than is theinterior of the casing, so that it may freely move vertically therein. 8indicates a wire or stem secured at its upper end to the said floatvalveand projecting downwardly through a restricted vertical opening 9,formed in the valve-seat 5, and also projecting a distance beyond saidrestricted opening into an enlargement 10, formed in the base of saidcasing. A suitable handle ll is applied to the upper part of the saidfloat-valve for use in removing the float-valve after the cover 2 hasbeen detached. It will thus be seen that I have provided an improvedtting for steamheating systems, and having a casing provided with inletand outlet ports adapted for connection in the system, said outlet-portbeing surrounded by a suitable valve seat formed with a leakage-channel,so that the float-valve is adapted to normally rest on said valve-seatand yet provide an outlet for the passage of air and water during thenormal operation of the device, and the flotation of the valve opens theentire area of the outlet upon an abnormal accumulation of water in thecasing.

12 indicates the water-return pipe, through which the water ofcondensation from the radiator 4 is returned to the usual place.

The operation is as follows: Steam being supplied to the radiator 4 inthe usual manner, Water of condensation will form therein and will passinto the casing 1,`and if the iiow is too great to be carried off by theleakage-channel 6 water will rise in the said casing until thefloat-valve 7 is thereby elevated, which will raise said float-valve oitof its seat 5 and uncover the opening 9, and thereby provide a largerpassage for the water, which will thence flow downwardly into thereturnpipe l2 and be discharged at the usual place, and said float-valve7 will then of course resume its normal position, as shown in Fig. l.

The vertical movement of the wire 8 in the opening 9 will act as acleaning device and automatically clean said opening of any oil orrefuse that may lodge therein. Were it not for this automatic cleaningdevice said opening would very soon become obstructed by such material,as it is quite common in a steam heating apparatus.

The leakage-channel 6 normally provides a restricted passage suflicientfor the air and IOO water, except upon first starting the radiator, whenthe latter is cold,` and the float-valve 7 only rises when there is anexcessive flow of Water. During operation a partial vacuum is to bemaintained in the return-pipe 12 by means of a common pump or othervacuumproducing device now in use in the steamheating art. The wire orstem 8 guides the iioat-valve 7 to its seat after it has been elevatedand also retains said valve in vertical position.

I claim- 1. In a tting for steam-heating systems, the combination of acasing provided with inlet and outlet ports adapted for connection y inthe system, said outlet-port being surrounded with a suitable valve-seatformed with a leakage-channel, and a float-valve adapted to rest on saidvalve-seat, whereby .when the valve is seated the channel provides anoutlet for the passage of air and Water of condensation during thenormal operation of the device andthe flotation of the Valve opens theentire area of the outlet upon an abnormal accumulation of water in thecasing, substantially as specified.

2. In a tting for steam-heating systems, the combination of a casingprovided with inlet and outlet ports adapted for connection in thesystem, said outlet-port being surrounded With a suitable valve-seatformed with a leakage-channel, a' float-valve adapted to rest on saidValve-seat, whereby when the valve is seated the channel providesanoutlet for the passage of air and Water of condensation during thenormal operation of the y

